Strainer



Jan. 8 1924.

v 1,480,420 A. c. ROWLEY- STRAINER Filed Jan 12, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8' 1924.

A. c. RowLgz STRAINER Filed Jan. 2 l9 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 and one object of said invention is p s tions to permit rama: Jan. 8. 1924.

UNITED STAT ARTHUR O. ROWLEY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GLOBE AUTO- PATENT." OFFICE.

I KA'I'IC SPRINKLER QOMIANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA-' non or rnnn'srnvama.

Application Med January To all whom it my concern: 7 Be it known that I, ARTHUR O.- Rowmr,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Penn lvania, have invented a Strainer, of which ilie following is a specificationl Y This invention relates to strainers designed particularly for use in connection with automatic fire extinguishin systems to provide a strainer which while capable tioning inthe customary manner to catch and hold solid objects movin in-a current of water passingthrough it, shall be of such construction as to be capable of providing a free passage for water 1n case its openings become clo ged, in order to insure an ample supply 0% water in'fcaseof a, heavy or sudden demand such as would be caused by a fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strainer which shall include'a normally closed valve capable'of automatically opening under predetermined condiunobstructed. water flow through the valve even though its perforations or passages should be c ogged up.

The invention further contemplates a novel form of strainer element, together permit of the convenient insertion and removal of said element; the invention also includin relatively simple and substantial means or supporting and holding the strainer element so that it cannotm'ove or get out of adjustment.

It is further desired to provide a strainer particularly designed for use in automatic fire extinguishing systems which shall include a-casing. for connection in such a system provided with a side openin and a removable strainer element insertib e through said opening, together with such an arrangement of parts as shall at all times insure the immovable holding of the strainer element.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawin in which, l

' ig. 1 is a side elevat on of ,a strainer of func-- with a containing casing so designed as to s'rnamnn.

12, 1922. Serial m. 528,767.

constructed in accordance with my invenin section; and F Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line' 2-2,

11 the above drawings 1 represents a casing having in the present instance a;

flanged inlet'opening 2, a clean-out opening tion and illustrating the f removable element 3 and a fianged outlet 4 in line with the I inlet-open1ng;-the clean-out opening -being normally closed by a plate or cover 14.-- In addition. this casing has in one. sidean'elongated, substantially rectangular and" suitably flanged opening 5 designed to be normally closed by a plate 6 removably held openlng 5 is inclined to the line of the two openings 2-4, in the present instance at an angle of about 45, and within the casing in a plane substantially parallel to that of the major axis of the opening 5 is a seat 7 for the reception of a removable strainer element 8 of such dimensions that it may be inserted in the casing. 1 and placed upon said seat through the side 0 ening 5.

Suitable lugs 9 are provi ed in the'casing to cooperate with the seat-7 in providing a guideway for holding the strainer element in lace and it is noted that one side of the atter is curved to fit the substantially semicircular inside wall of the .casin 1, opposite which it has a straight ed e immediately adjacent and parallel with t e cover' plate 6 of the side opening 5 so that it cannot shift its position within the casing after said cover plate has once been put 1n place.

The strainer element itself may be dc? scribed as having an annular perforated or reticulated bod whose central opening is normally closed by a gate or a. clapper 10, hinged to what is intended to be the upper side of its body by a pivot pin 11, so that.

itself is likewise perforated so that under' normal conditions water is free to enter the inlet 2 and pass with but little obstruction from the strainer element to the outlet 4.

0a in position by bolts or other suitable means. 5 Themajor axis or general line of this side-- Said element however revents the passage of solid material of sue size as cannot pass through its perforations.

Even though'pieces of solid material may lodge against the strainer struct the effective cross section of the water channel to a' greater or less degree, the inclined mounting of said element permits it. tohave such a relatively large area as compared to either the inlet or the outlet that there is ample opening for the neces-, sary water flow. In the case however of a sudden demand for water, the arrangement is such that if any material clogging of the perforations has occurred, the gate 10 will automatically swing up on its pivot pin and provide an unobstructed opening through the strainer element whose area is substantially equal to that of the inlet or outlet.

The lower opening 3 is usually normally closed by the plate 14 and an enlargement of the lowest part of the casing constitutes a pocket into which solid material may drop after its passage through the casing has been obstructed by the strainer element. By removal of the plate 14 such material may be removed when desired. The trainer element may be quickly and conveniently removed t rough the side opening for inspection or cleaning and after'be ing put in place within t e casing, can

element and ob-' struoted.

neither rotate into such position that the valve 10 would automatically tend to open, nor can it in any other way become displaced or out of adjustment.

I claim: v

1. The combination in a strainer having an inlet. and an outlet; a strainer element body in position to normally a 2. The combination in a strainer having an inlet and an outlet; a strainer element mounted in the casing in a plane at an an le to the line of flow of liquid from the in et to the outlet, said element including an annular perforated body having n opening therethrough having substantially the same cross sectional area as that of the outlet; with agate pivoted at its top to the body and normally closing the opening under the action of gravity, but free to automatically" open to permit flow of material when the perforations of said element become ob- ARTHUR" 1c. ROWLEY. 

